THIERS (Jean-Baptiste). - Lot 4

THIERS (Jean-Baptiste). Histoire des perruques, où l'on fait voir leur origine, leur usage, leur forme, l'abus & l'irrégularité de celles des ecclésiastiques. Paris : Aux dépens de l'auteur, 1690 - In-12, 165 x 92 : (12 ff.), 544 pp., (1 f.). Brown granite calf, ornate ribbed spine, red speckled edges (period binding). Colas, no. 2869. - Hiler, no. 844. - Lipperheide, no. 1660. - Brunet, V, col. 819-820. Rare first edition. Doctor of Theology, Abbé Jean-Baptiste Thiers (1636-1703) traces the history of wigs and headdresses from Antiquity to the 17th century, while denouncing their abusive use by the author's contemporaries, particularly ecclesiastics, whom he accuses of giving in to vanity and worldliness. "As almost all the works of this theologian are full of erudition and abound in curious details on the customs of the Catholic Church, they are much sought after" (Brunet). The work is part of a wider debate on the morality of fashion at the time. In his historical analysis, the author shows that this practice was not new, but that it was often associated with vanity and excessive luxury, and therefore argues that ecclesiastics should avoid this fashion, arguing that wearing a wig would be harmful to health. A good copy in contemporary binding. Covers skilfully restored, a few leaves browned. Small worm gallery in the inner margin of the first 12 leaves and in the lower margin of the first 120 leaves, notes in ink on the endpapers. The second edition of this text is included: - THIERS (Jean-Baptiste). Histoire des perruques. Où l'on fait voir Leur origine, leur usage, leur forme, l'abus & l'irrégularité de celles des Ecclésiastiques. Avignon : Louis Chambeau, 1777. - In-12, marbled fawn basane, ornate spine, marbled edges (period binding). A good copy despite the faded spine.